Traffic came to standstill on the streets of Kampala as Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) flag bearer in the forthcoming Presidential Elections, Dr Kizza Besigye launched his change campaign on Wednesday.
There was also noticeable heavy police deployment on most of the parts of Kampala where Besigye campaigned. The four time presidential candidate was welcomed in Makindye Division where he addressed rallies in Kibuli, Kisugu, Namuwongo, Gaaba road, Gaaba, Kibuye and Katwe where he held his main rally.
He addressed thousands of his supporters in the middle of the road, straining the late evening traffic.
He said on February 18 Ugandans have the opportunity to vote for change in order to have their liberate themselves from the ‘current dictatorship’.
Dr Besigye has held a number of hugely-attended rallies in all the regions of the country, some of which said he said he had never seen in his political life.
His opponent and incumbent President Yoweri Museveni is also in the vote hunt in his rallies in the central region, lately in Mukono and Nakawa.
Once elected into power, Besigye promised to reduce the size of government and the entire government expenditure such that the wasted money can serve the owners.
He also decried the personalization of the affairs of the state by President Museveni, saying the president has failed to distinguish between his family and the state.
“We want to ensure that we create strong institutions and functionalize them so that the people of Uganda can benefit from them,” he promised.
Besigye also thanked those who have generously contributed to his campaign by contributing cash and other logistics.
At Katwe along the Entebbe Road, Dr Besigye told his supporters that his mission upon being elected President would be to ‘return Kampala city back to its owners’.
He also called upon the people to vote out all the NRM people from Kampala and vote in the opposition because NRM has messed the city.
“We want, once all this is done, to turn Kampala into a modern city,” he said. “Rebuilding this city doesn’t mean chasing its dwellers out of it.”
Donning his signature stripped blue hood shirt and cream khaki trousers , Dr Besigye was flanked by among other opposition leaders, the incumbent Lord Mayor of Kampala Erias Lukwago.
And when he spoke, Lukwago thanked the people of Kampala for electing him to power but hastened to add that President Museveni had done everything possible to frustrate him.
He urged the people not to be demoralized by what happened to him in the last term and vote him to power once again with overwhelming support.
“I take this opportunity to call upon all of you who are registered voters in Kampala to come out in large numbers and give me your votes for the office of the Lord Mayor so we develop the city together,” he said.
He promised that once elected into power, his priorities would be accountability, rule of the law and service delivery.
Others present at the rally were Kampala woman MP Nabila Nagayi Ssemapala, Kampala Woman Member of Parliament aspirant Hajat Shifra Lukwago, Kawempe East MP aspirant Allan Sewanyana, Rubaga Mayor Joyce Sebugwawo and the FDC Chairman Ambassador Waswa Birigwa Ssekyondwa, among others.
